Coin bank



Patented Sept. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN BANK Charles M. Dale, Scarsdale, N. Y., assigner to The Coinmaster Corp., a corporation of New York Application July 2, 194s, serial N0. 602,766 l 01. meer.)

Claims.

This invention relates to coin banks, particularly of the type capable of being opened only when the bank or a portion thereof s full,

Most banks in this category are adapted to house a single column of coins, and where provision is made for more than one column, separate opening mechanisms are generally required for each column. It is within the contemplation of my invention to provide a bank of this class adapted to house several columns of coins, yet containing a unitary manually manipulable mechanism for opening the bank when either one or more of the column compartments are full.

It is a further object of this invention to` provide a device of the above-mentioned class of attractive and presentable appearance, and wherein the very features that give the device its aesthetic value serve also certain important mechanical functions. And in thisaspect of my invention it is an important object to enable'the ornamental design features to perform, among others, two valuable functionsto conceal the manually manipulable mechanism, and to hold against rotation a movable coin-supporting plat.- form constituting an important element of my invention, the non-rotatability of said platform being operatively desirable.

It is also an object of this invention to provide the coin housing with means for preventing the coins of one column from being inadvertently displaced into an adjacent coin compartment.

And it is within my contemplation to attain the aforesaid objectives by meansv of a compact, easily fabricated and inexpensive device.

Other objects, features and advantages will ap- .pear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of coin bank according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of Figure 1 taken substantially along line 2 -2 thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectionof Figure 2 taken along line 33 thereof.

Figure l is a section of Figure 2 taken along line 4--4 thereof.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section of Figure 2 taken along line 5-5 thereof.

Figure 6 is vertical section, substantially like Figure 2, showing a column of coins operatively pushing open the cover.

Figure 'l' is a perspective View of the central partition member, and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the spring coin stop interposed adjacent the coin slot.

In the particular 'embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the coin bank comprises a hollow base member ID upon which is supported the coin housing II. The method of attachment is through the prong members I2 extending through suitable slits in the base and bent against the underside thereof-although any other known method of attachment may be employed within the scope and intent of this invention. The said housing consists of three cornpartments I3, I4 and I5, the outer walls of each being of arcuate cross-section joined together at vertical junctures I6, Il and I8. These junctures constitute recessed portions of the entire housing I I, and produce a clover-leaf appearance when viewed from the top. As will hereinafter appeal', this arrangement not only serves an aesthetic purpose, but also has an important utilitarian function.

The three coin compartments are provided with coin slots I9, 20 and 2l near the top thereof. The entire housing is provided with a cover member 22 which is arranged to be inserted within the upper portion of the housing and frictionallyv engageable with the wall thereof. In the particular embodiment shown, the upper wall of the housing is provided with a peripherally disposed recess 2-3, and the lateral Wall 24' of the cover member is provided with a similarly arranged recess 25 shaped and proportioned so that it will enter and be in frictional engagement with the recessed portion 23. The said recessed portions23 and 24 may be in the nature of bumps adapted for mutual coactive frictienal engagement, so that Whenthe cover member 22 is in position within the housing as illustrated, it Will be frictionally held in place and adapted for removal only b y an upward push from within. 1t is preferred that the uppermost edge 26 of the housing be substantially flush with the top wall 2T of the cover, so that said cover could not be conveniently grasped Ifor removal from without. It is obvious that the said cover 22 is also of clover-leaf construction so as to conform to the shape of the housing. The proportions of the compartments I3, I4 and I5 can be made to accommodate predetermined denominations of coins, such as dimes for compartment I3, nickels for compartment I4 and quarters for compart-- ment I5.'

The coverr member 22 is also provided on the underside thereof with three spring members 28 at the4 upper portions of the compartments,

the three compartments and proportioned so as i to extend substantially across all of said corn-v partments whereby the platform could operatively support coin columns in` each of the compartments. The platform contains a downwardly extending boss 3l and a central threaded hole 32 in operative engagement with the threaded shank 33 of the screw member 34.V `.Said screwmember contains ahead portion 35 1 disposed within the Vhollow of base kIl] and resting flush against the horizontal underside 330i .thebase, the said shank extending upwardly through hole 37 in the base and to a point above the-lowermost position of the platform-"the ylength ci the shank extending thereabove being suflicient to permit an operative movement of the platform upwardly a predetermined distance-suhcient--to enable it to effectuate its cover-removing function, in a manner to be hereinafter described.- Suitably aixed to shank 33is the disk-38 which overlies the upper horizontalrsurface tof the-base, said disk 38 and head 35 preventing any vertical movement of the screw, although not preventing its operative rotation. The arrangement is such that upon a turning of Ythe screw, the; platform 3U can be made to move-up or down, depending f upon the direction of rotation. t H v Centrally disposed within the housing isthe 4 the cover 22 and a, removal of the coins. When this condition occurs, as indicated in Figure 6, all that need be done is to rotate the screw member in a clockwise direction. This will cause the platform to rise, thereby pushing the one or more filled coin columns against the underside of cover member 22 to force it open against the frictionaligrasptsf the wall of thehousing. It is thus obvious that only when a column of coins reaches a predetermined upper level that the bank can be opened. This construction constitutes a salable feature, inasmuch as there is an inducement to save, or at least to fill the bank before it can be opened.

It is important to note that the recessed portions lt, Il and I8 of the housing which, as aforesaid, serve to enhance the appearance of the device, serve also the important function of preventing the platform 30 from turning. The said platform is, as clearly indicated from the drawings, similar in cross-section to the housing, the indentures 49, and 5| corresponding to said indentures I6, l1 and I8. Hence, should there be any tendency of the platform to turn during an,

, described and shown in the drawings vis merely l. In a coin bank, al housing havinga coin slot near the top, a cover frictionally secured toY the top of the housing, a spring pressedguard carried by the cover of the k,housing and extend-- ing in the plane of the slot, a vertically movable separator or partitionmember 39- consisting, in i the particular form illustrated, of three vertically disposed concave Lwalls 4G, Y 4 l and l 42 complementary to compartmentslB, i4 landl, respectively. Said separator may extend V-up to thetop of the housinggthe. lower portion containing the legs 43, 44 `and 45 extending: through corresponding holes 4B, 41- and 48win'the platformliA and being anchored tothe top of basey Hl eitherv by rivets or inA any other known manner, .Thef

legs 43, 44 and-45 are'of such length as t0 permit an upward movement of the platform-3ll,'the

length of the legs corresponding approximately to the predetermined verticaloperative movement of thefplatform 30. .i

In the operation .ofthisjdevice theplatform 30 Y is set into its lowermostlpositon and thel cover 22 is placed in its operativelyclosed position as is illustrated in `Figure 5.A As coins are inserted in the various slots I9, 2D and` 2|,r they will fall Lf to the platform 33,- within theirrespective compartments, yforming columns of coins. as they are being deposited.` The partition `member 30, eX- tending vertically upwardly, constitutes the inner portions Yof the threecompartments andv serves Y the purpose of preventing coins from one compartment frominadvertently falling into another-thereby :maintaining the .three columns of coins in their proper operative positions for coactive use with the platform, as Willl be herein-t platform within the bottom portion of the housing and adapted to support at least one column of coins, and manuallymanipulablescrew means v to move the platform vertically within the housing, whereby a column of coins operatively suping a skirtsurrounding and laterally concealing said screw means.

2. In a coin bankQ a housing having a coinf slotl near the top, a cover in irictional engagement 4with the wall ofl the upper portion of the housing at theinner surfacethereof, said wall extending substantially to the level of the adjacent uppermost portion of the cover and completely surrounding same, a spring pressed guard carried by the cover of the housing andv extend.,- ing in the plane of therslot, a vertically movable platform within the bottom portion o f the housing and adapted to supportv at least one column of coins, and manually manipulable means to move the platform vertically within the housing', whereby a column of 4coins operativelysup'ported by the platform will engage the underside of said guard and force the cover out of its engagement with the housing when the platform is operatively. moved upwardly.

3. In a coin bank, alhousinghaving a coin slot near the top, a base supporting the housing,

a cover frictionally secured `to .the top of the of the slot, a vertically movable platform within the bottom portion of the housing and adapted to. support at least vone column of coins, and

screw meansy supported by the base and in threaded engagement with the platform for vertically moving the platform within the housing, whereby a column of coins operatively supported by the platform will engage the underside of.

said guard and force the cover out of its engagement with the housing when the platform is operativelyl moved upwardly, said housing having a .skirt surrounding and laterally concealing said screw means. Y

4. A coin bank comprising a housing having a body for containing coins, a base having adepending skirt secured to and extending below the lower end of the body, a top piece having a frictional connection inside of the upper end of the body, said body having a coinslot beneath the edge of the top piece and a spring pressed guard carried by the top piece and projecting into the plane of the slot at the inner edge thereof and biased to move transversely of the slot and free from contact with the body of the housing and a manually operable compression screw means movable in the base toward and from the top piece for compressing a stack of coins within the housing against the spring pressed guard at. the top and forcing the top piece out of the body, said screw means. being accessible only within the skirt of the base.

5. In a coin bank, a housing having a coin slot near the top, a hollow base supporting the housing and comprising a horizontal supporting wall and a peripheral wall extending downwardly therefrom, a cover frictionally secured to the top of the housing, a spring pressed guard carried by the cover of the housing and extending in the plane of the slot, a vertically movable platform within the bottom portion of the housing and adapted to support at least one column of coins, said platform in its lowermost position being adapted to be supported by said horizontal wall of the base, and screw means supported by the base and in threaded engagement with the platform for vertically moving the platform within the housing, whereby a column of coins operatively supported by the platform will engage the underside of said guard and force the cover out of its engagement with the housing when the platform is operatively moved upwardly, said screw means comprising a head portion within the hollow portion of the base and in engagement with the underside of the said horizontal wall thereof, a shank in threaded engagement with the platform and extending upwardly a sucient distance to permit a predetermined operative movement of the platform, and a collar aixed to the shank and in engagement with the upper surface of the said horizontal wall of the base.

6. In a coin bank, a housing with a plurality of vertical indentures extending substantially along the length thereof, a cover frictionally secured to the top of the housing, a vertically movable platform within the bottom portion of the housing and containing indentures to correspond with the indentures of the housing, the platform being proportioned to substantially correspond with the size and shape of the crosssectional area of the interior of the housing, whereby the platform could move vertically but will be held against rotation by the indentures of the housing, the platform being adapted to support at least one column of coins, said housing having a coin slot near the top, a spring pressed guard carried by the cover and extending in the plane of the slot, and manually manipulable meansV to move the platform vertically within the housing, whereby a column of coins operatively supported by the platform will engage the underside. of said guard and force the cover out of its engagement with the housing when the platform is operatively moved upwardly.

7. In a coin bank, a housing having a plurality of vertical compartments each being adapted to accommodate. a column of coins and having a coin slot near the top of each compartment, a cover frictionally secured to the top of the housing, a spring pressed guard projecting from the cover'. into the plane .of each slot, avertical partition member within the housing and disposed substantially atv the vinnermost portions of said compartments, whereby the compartments are operativelyv separated from one another, a vertically movable rplatformV within the bottom portion of the housingfan'd extending into each of said compartments, the platform being adapted to support-a column of coins in each compartment,A and manually manipulable means to move the platform vertically within the housing, whereby one or more columns of coins operatively supported by the platform will engage the underside of lsaid guards. and force the cover out of its engagement' with the housing when the platform is operatively moved upwardly.

8. In acoin bank, a housing having a plul rality of vertical compartments each being adapted to'accommodate acolumn of coins and having a coin slot neary the top of each compartment, a cover frictionally secured to the top of the housing, a spring pressed guard projecting from the cover into the plane of each slot, a vertical partition member within the housing and disposed substantially at the innermost portions of said compartments, whereby the compartments are operatively separated from one another, a base supporting said housing, said partition member containing at the lower portion thereof a plurality of legs supported by said base, a vertically movable platform within the bottom portion of the housing and extending into each of said compartments, the platform being adapted to support a column of coins in each compartment, Said platform containing a, plurality of apertures therein spaced and proportioned to accommodate therein the legs of said partition member, and-manually manipulable means to move the platform vertically within the housing, wherebyone or more columns of coins operatively supported by the platform will engage the underside of said guards and force the cover out of its engagement with the housing when the platform is operatively moved upwardly.

9. In a coin bank, a housing, a base supporting the housing, the lateral wall of the housing containing a plurality of arcuate sections joined at vertically extending indentures, thereby forming a plurality of vertical coin compartments, each compartment having a coin slot near the top, a cover frictionally secured to the top of the housing and disposed over all of said compartments, spring pressed guards carried by the cover and extending into the plane of the slots, a vertical partition member consisting of a plurality of adjacent vertical concave walls forming the inner walls of the compartments, a base supporting the said housing, said partition member containing at the lower portion thereof a plurality of legs supported by said base, a vertically movable platform within the bottom portion of the housing and extending into each of said compartments, the platform being adapted to support a column of coinsk in each compartment, said platform containing a plurality of apertures therein spaced and proportioned to accommodate therein the legs of said partition member,'and manually manipulable means .to move the platform vertically Within the housing, whereby one or more columns of coins operatively supported by the platform will engage the underside of said spring pressed guards and force the cover out of its engagement with the housing when the platform is operatively moved upwardly.

10. In a coin bank, a housing of substantially clover-leaf cross-sectional configuration, Whereby three vertical compartments are formed, each compartment having a coin slot near the top thereof, a base supporting the housing, a cover shaped to correspond with the housing and frictionally secured to the top wall thereof, spring pressed guards carried by the cover and extending into the plane of the slots, a vertical partition member Within the housing and disposed substantially at the innermost portions of Vsaid compartments, whereby the compartments are operatively separated from one another, said partition member consisting of a plurality of adjacent vertical concave Walls extending vertically substantially the height of the housing and forming the inner Walls of the compartments, said partition member containing at the lower portion thereof a plurality of legs supported by said base, a vertically movable platform within the bottom portion of the housing and extending into each of said compartments, the platform being adapted to support a column of coins in'each' compartment, means to hold the platform against rotation, said platform containing a plurality of apertures therein spaced and proportioned to accommodate therein the legs of said partition member, and screw means supported by the base and in threaded engagement with the platform for vertically moving the platform within the housing, 'whereby one or more columns of coins operatively supported by the platform will engage the underside of said guards and force the cover out of its engagement with the housing when the platform isV operatively moved up- Wardly.

CHARLES M. DALE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNI'I'ED STATES PATENTS 

